章 2: Admirer
"I don't want to drink and eat anything.", Zoa declared. "Are you afraid that I've mixed something in it? Then let me show you by drinking this water.", Asher took a sip of the water.
"See, it's safe.", Asher said. "No, I still don't want it.", Zoa said.
"Drink it. If you won't then I'll feed it with this.", Asher put his finger on his mouth. Zoa took the glass of water from him. "Splash...", She had watered a vase near the bed.
The sound of the storm outside got intense. Zoa wanted to run away from there. When she had asked for the phone. But she looked outside of the cottage from the window. There was a storm outside.
It was clear from the window's view that they were in a hilly area. 'It means that I'm near to my farmhouse and those hitmen could be still searching for me.'
There were two storms. One was outside and one was inside, inside the cottage and Zoa's mind. She was stuck in an unknown place with an unknown man. She was alone and hurt.
Zoa gathered the courage and said, "Should I help you?" As she had seen Asher struggling to tie the bandages on his arm.
"You may.", He responded. Zoa struggled to put the bandages properly. As her own hand was injured. But Asher also helped her, and they were finally succeeding in it.
"Ah...", Zoa flopped her head on the bed. "It was tiring.", She remarked.
Asher also laid down next to her. Zoa realized the presence of a stranger on the same bed with her. She raised and struggled to the kitchen. She looked outside of the window as well.
Zoa filled the glass with the tap water as the fridge was empty. There was nothing to eat there. Zoa drank the water and looked outside again. It was raining heavily.
"How much money do you need?", Zoa asked. "Huh?", Asher looked at her.
He was still slouched in the bed. He sat on the bed in an upright position. "You are asking me?", Asher asked.
"Yes, how much money are you going to demand?", Zoa repeated her question.
Zoa heard the footsteps of him coming closer to her. Zoa had left the knife on the bed. 'How could I make such a stupid mistake?'
Zoa clenched the glass tightly. She looked around and couldn't find a single weapon for her protection. Zoa was trembling more as the sound of the feet got louder and louder.
A hand approached Zoa's body. Someone had gently stroked her back. "Are you trembling?", Asher whispered in Zoa's ears. He had leaned his head on her shoulder. He slowly took the glass from her hands and placed it on the shelf.
"Don't be afraid of me. I won't hurt you, Miss Lee.", Asher forcefully put the knife on Zoa's hand. He was embracing her like a snake. "How...", Zoa turned her head and wanted to ask something.
But Asher put her lip on her lips and kissed her desperately. Their tongues intertwined. Zoa struggled to push him. But he was grabbing her hands.
They heard someone knocking on the door. Asher loosened his grip on Zoa's arms and waist. Zoa found this as a good opportunity and pushed him away. She smacked his head with the glass.
The glass broke and Asher's head was bleeding. Zoa struggled to run away. Asher tried to hold her arm, but she ran away. Asher saw Zoa's inclining to clench the knife. She hid behind the door.
Asher wanted to stop her and wanted to go there but he fell on the kitchen floor and fainted because of the bleeding in his head.
"Ahh...", Asher opened his eyes. He saw Zoa sitting in front of her. "Where am I?", He murmured. "You are in a cottage that is not yours.", Zoa replied.
"Hahaha... I'm caught now.", Asher laughed. "Yes, you are under arrest Dr. Asher.", Zoa said. She also laughed with him.
Asher struggled to get up. Zoa helped him. Asher leaned closer to her. "Now, are we on good terms?", Asher whispered. "Yes, we are on business terms now. And the first rule of your business is not to have a physical relationship.", Zoa said aloud.
"I've never heard of this rule.", Asher said. "I'm Zoa Lee. I make my own terms and conditions in my business.", Zoa responded.
"You are bossy as usual. I need to work hard for you.", Asher said.
'Yes, keep working with honesty. Now, be honest and tell me everything from the start. How do you know me and where are we?", Zoa asked.
"I'll tell you everything but first, answer me. What about that person who was knocking on the door?", Asher asked.
"Oh! Are you talking about him.", Zoa pointed at a dead body covered in blood near the door. "You killed him.", Asher said with shock.
"I had no other choice. Is there any problem? Do you know him?", Zoa asked.
"There is no problem. But could you untie my limbs?", Asher pleaded. "Yes, I'll do this for sure. After listening to your story.", Zoa responded.
'Yes, I already knew about you. I belonged to a middle-class family and I got a scholarship for my medical college under your Lee scholarship program. We had met at my graduation."
"I had always sent you a bouquet on your birthday. After all, I'm your admirer. And I owe you. Maybe, that's also the reason. I've got a crush on you as well. But you don't need to reciprocate my feelings yet. I won't force you.", Asher told his story to Zoa.
"You won't force me? Then what did you do before?", Zoa asked suspiciously.
"I apologize for that. I never wanted to do this. I was just hurt. You have not even recognized my name after seeing my license. I know that my bouquets were ordinary but at least you could have recognized my name."
"But I apologize to you again. I promise you that I'll never force you for anything. You can give me whatever punishment you think is suitable for me.", Asher apologized again.
"Did you send me the tulips?", Zoa asked. "Yes, I had always sent you the tulips. Because you had told me in an interview that this flower reminds you of your father."
Zoa recalled her memories when her best birthday gifts were the tulip flowers sent by Anonymous. She had always waited for her bouquet on her birthday. She had been receiving these flowers for ten years.
"But there was never mentioned your name.", Zoa said.
"Hahaha.. So you have always received my flowers. Love from Your Admirer. That's what was always mentioned.", Asher responded.
"You knew me already. Why did you feign ignorance? I need to hear everything. Why are we here?", Zoa ordered him.
"I wanted to be your prince and save a princess in damsel. But looking at you like that I'm sure. It was not necessary to act strongly. You have killed a man in this state and tied the other. You are amazing. I'm falling harder for you."
"Enough with this nonsense. Are you a stalker? How did you find me here?", Zoa put the knife on his throat. "I won't answer.", He responded. Zoa sharpened her gaze.
Asher smiled and said, "So, you will believe me. If I'll tell you."
"If you'll be reasonable.", Zoa responded.
"Yes, I was stalking you...", Asher shamelessly accepted it. Zoa forced the knife into Asher's neck. "Maybe I should also slaughter you.", Zoa declared.
"But. But listen to me. I came to this village for a medical camp. Believe me. I never knew that I'd meet you here. I saw you at that grocery store near the highway. I followed you. When I was following you. I heard bullets sound."
"You were running and I took your arm and we jumped off the cliff. We fell into the stream running there. I took you here. I don't know anything about this cottage. I don't even know. Where we are? My phone is broken. And there is a storm outside."
Asher explained everything. "Why were you following me?", Zoa asked.
"I'm your fan. I wanted to take a closer look at you. And my dream came true. We are close, very close to each other."
Zoa realized that she was unconsciously very close to him. Zoa didn't ask any more questions. "We are going to take a rest for two hours. Then I'll leave. If you want to come with me. You can.", Zoa announced.
"At your service, Ma'am."
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